Twelve significant photographs in any one year is a good crop. - Ansel Adams

To my followers, I fell behind while working to get my new shop and gallery open but I'll catch up during the next few days. Please come visit us at our new location, 3008 Fairfield Avenue in Black Rock, CT.

Named It's all about you!
we're open Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 12 noon to 8 pm, Saturday & Sunday 11 am to 8 pm. This week we'll close at 6:30 pm Friday and open at 1:00 pm on Saturday so that we can photograph the annual St. Nicholas Fair at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Fairfield, CT.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Skating in Central Park


This shot was taken on a cool crisp day in Central Park similar to today. It's a great day to visit the city, shop, and maybe even skate!

Friday, December 3, 2010

Cenral Park Carraige Ride


This close up of a horse drawn carraige was shot in Central Park in New York City. It's a great way to see some of the sites!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Christmas Is Coming



Hey folks, Christmas is coming so please stop by our shop for some unique holiday shopping. This image just reminds me of the holidays. It was taken by chance early one morning after a snowfall. The wind had blown the snow off the berries which made for a pleasing shot.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Holiday Portraits and Photos


'Tis the season as they say and please do not forget about your holiday photos! I'm posting some of my favorites from during the past years. We can provide a set of digital images at the location of your choice.

Christmas is a popular time to take a family portrait. Or, think outside the box - we can photograph your home, your favorite view, etc. All images are provided on CD. 3 images that you select will be edited and printed on ultra premium glossy photo paper using 80-year archival ink to provide durable, super high quality, long lasting images. This is a great opportunity to capture a special someone or something for posterity.

Elegant Seaside

Central Park

The Twins

Totem Pole

The Reverand

Happy Family

We Do Model Portfolios Too!

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Fayerweather Light Late Summer


We've seen many images of this subject at sunrise and some at sunset. Here's one taken in the late Summer when the skies were still bright around 8:00 PM. I take most of my shots of the Fayerweather Lighthouse late in the day when it is lit by the sun from the west. I liked this image because the curving jetty caries you into the scene. Enjoy!

Monday, November 29, 2010

Tidal Marsh In Mystic, Connecticut


One of the things that David Pressler taught me early on in my photography training was to always look around for the small details. Well this is what happened when I created this image. I was standing near the entrance to Mystic Seaport looking at all that it had to offer and when I looked to the left, I spotted this scene which to me is very pleasing. Hope you enjoy it.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Orion Ventures LLC Presents It's all about you!


Hey Folks, I know I haven't posted to the site for a bit. That's because I've been busy opening up a new shop in Black Rock. Orion Ventures is my LLC where our motto is "We Develop Creativity".

It's all about you! is the latest addition to our ventures that currently include William Alderman Photography, Dollar Bill's Emporium, and The Alderman Group. To add to the fun, I live in a 5 room apartment directly above the shop. WooHoo, no more commuting! Here's some details:

It's all about
you!
3008 Fairfield Avenue
Black Rock, CT 06605
203-870-9111

Situated in the Quarterboard Row Building in the historic seaport village of Black Rock, this innovative shop combines the benefits of our projects into one unique retail space. At It's all about you!, the customer is number one! Whatever you want, we will get it. Our services include:

• Techno Art Gallery - come view our artists work on DVD
• Digital Photography Studio
• Vignette Consignment Shop
• Unique Collectables and Gifts
• Estate Sale Management
• Project Management
• Interior Design and Repair Services

A complete selection of vendors for any project you may have.

Artists & consignors, please call us at 203-870-9111 or e-mail us at:

ItsAllAboutYou.BlackRock@gmail.com

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving


This was a chance shot taken by the Fayerweather Yacht Club early Tuesday morning. I had been up on the roof deck shooting the early morning sunrise and when I came out to the street there was a flock of wild turkeys running around. I advised this guy to hide for a few days and he was kind enough to pose for me. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Fayerweather Light Sunrise


As you may have noticed, shooting the Fayerweather Light at the entrance to Black Rock Harbor is one of my favorite subjects. I've shot it from a variety of locations, most recently St. Mary's By The Sea in Black Rock. I hope you enjoy this image as much as I did creating it.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Early Morning Moon Set


While I was shooting the sunrise, I noticed the setting moon behind me and thought that this made an awesome shot through the tree branches. Hope you enjoy it!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Sunset In Black Rock Harbor


After all of the sunrise shots I had been creating, I thought it would be fun to shoot a sunset image. This one was created at Seaside Park near the fishing pier. At this time of year, you have to be on your toes because the sky literally lights up for only a minute or so and it's easy to miss.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

We Honor Those Who Serve on Veteran's Day


To those we have served and are serving, please accept our thanks. Our family's ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War so for today, I present the Westport Minuteman for your review.

Friday, August 6, 2010

In Memory of Jean Emily Burrage Alderman


Today would have been Mom’s 90th birthday. The photo of Mom and Dad at Niagara Falls was taken by an unknown photographer.

Mom was a special person who met my father during World War II. In those days, marriages between Australians and Americans were virtually unheard of. No one really traveled between the U.S. and Australia. Today the flight time in jets from New York to Sydney is about 24 hours. Imagine the time it took in the 40’s to get there in a prop plane! During the war, Dad worked for Eastern Aircraft (owned by GM) and was on loan to the British Navy. He was an expert on the aircraft of that era and two of the books he wrote are in The Library of Congress. An avid photographer, we still have the photographs he took of a kamikaze attack on his aircraft carrier. Fortunately, he and many of his crew-mates survived and they were able to put in to Sydney Harbour. As the story goes, he then went to pick up a paycheck at Holden (GM Australia). Well he met my Mom and the rest is history. Dad knew she was his soul-mate from the minute he laid eyes on her. He really wanted her and spent countless hours having the American family write letters to Mom about what a great guy he was. She finally agreed to marry him. Now keep in mind, that after the war, the United States would not permit travel here. The government at the time was afraid we would be overwhelmed with refuges. True love overcomes all and Dad snuck Mom into the United States. Australia is a Commonwealth Country as is Canada. Mom flew to Vancouver Canada – a trip that took days. They boarded the Canadian Pacific Railway and travelled to a stop just north of Buffalo. There, Dad had an old friend who owned a farm that spanned the border. They crossed into the United States on that private land and were married shortly thereafter. It seems like Dad had friends everywhere because they went to Montreal a couple of months later. His buddy had prepared the required paperwork and they entered the United States legally. Mom was very proud of her homeland, Australia, and never gave up her citizenship. She did however get a green card. In this time, we talk a lot about illegal aliens. Well, Mom was one of the first! In 1987, I had the great fortune to take her back to Australia for the first time since she left in 1946.

Today I would ask you to help me celebrate the life of my Mother. Some days we shed tears while on others we smile as we remember her. I would like to take you away for a short period of time - to take you on a journey.

Please think about a day in the past that was filled with fun, exhilaration, and excitement. A day that you had not a care in the world. A day that you were totally immersed in that moment.

Close your eyes - yes, close your eyes and think about it. It’s all right to smile; in fact I would like you to remember it so well that you can’t help but smile. Perhaps it was a day outdoors, skiing, hiking, fishing, swimming, biking, a back yard barbecue, a concert, a play, the joy of a newborn, whatever it was, do you remember it well? Think about it; re-live it.

You may have been the first up the ski lift after a night of newly fallen snow. As you got off the lift, you turned to head down the mountain. You paused at the top of your favorite trail and looked out over the valleys below you, covered with a fresh blanket of snow. The sun shimmered off the snow crystals like a billion diamonds. The sky was blue and clear, the scent in the air was indescribably clean and crisp. As you headed down the trails, you made first tracks and the only sound was that of the powder under your skis.

It may have been a walk in the fall woods. As you walked up that old logging trail, the sound of birds and scolding squirrels, the crunch of leaves under your feet, that heady smell of moss, freshly fallen leaves and fall flowers permeated your senses. The trees were painted in their autumn colors, the bright yellows of the birches, the intense reds of the maples and the deep greens of the pines, hemlock and cedar.

Was it a day at an amusement park when you went on every ride at least once, except the roller coaster? You did that three times! The sounds of the calliope in the background, screams of delight from children of all ages, the aromas of hot dogs, onion rings, fried dough and cotton candy all filled the air.

Or was it a day on the water or at the beach? Soft warm sand to sink your feet into, clear cool water to swim in, the smell of the salty air, hearing the gulls over head, listening to the rhythm of the waves coming into shore. Were you on a boat? It doesn’t really matter what kind it was. Perhaps a sailboat cutting gracefully across Sydney Harbour, the wind singing in the rigging, the lines slapping on the mast, heeling over just enough to make it interesting but still allowing you to relax.

It makes no difference what your day was made up of, what does matter is that even today you can see in your mind your surroundings, remember the sounds, the smells and re-live those emotions.

Do you remember what happened at the end of that day? I may not have been there but I’ll bet that sunset arrived. And with the sunset, you picked up, went home, set anchor or otherwise ended your day. You knew that wonderful day was going to end but you didn’t think about it until the sun was low on the horizon.

You could not stop the sun from setting, but you will always have the memories. And just as we cannot stop the sun from setting, we cannot stop the process of life. With Mom’s passing she was relieved of her pain and suffering.

In the coming days, weeks, months and years, when a thought of Mom comes to mind, let the memories bring warmth to your heart and a smile to your face, for we are fortunate to have had her.

While Mom may be physically gone, she will always be with us as long as we keep her alive in our minds, in our hearts, and in our souls.

God bless you Mom, we miss you.